Ezekiel 42:14
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14 When the priests are ready to leave the temple, they must go through these rooms before they return to the outer courtyard. They must leave their sacred clothes in these rooms and put on regular clothes before going anywhere near other people.
Back in the 70’s I was a little boy watching my Aunts, as teenagers themselves, preparing to go out with their friends; whether it was a Parliament-Funkadelic concert in Nashville or the skating rink in the next county, they always had to get a “new outfit.” What they wore at home was not the same thing they wore out amongst the people. They had to make themselves presentable before they went out, hence the word, “outfit.”
In the Old Testament, God put more emphasis on the “in-fit.” When the priests went into the inner temple to serve God they had to wear special priestly garments made out of linen. They had to be consecrated. This is a good principle for us to hold on to. When we go before God we need to be consecrated. It’s not so much what we have on but what we have in. Our mindset and our hearts should be holy when we enter into the Holy presence of God. Our outfit ought to match our inner attitude of reverence for God.
When we go out to face the people outside, we need to change our “outfit.” It’s not that we are two different people but the posture we take before God is distinctly different in front of the people on the outside.
Ezekiel 44:19
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
19 And before they leave to join the other people in the outer courtyard, they must take off their priestly clothes, then place them in the sacred rooms and put on their regular clothes.[a] That way, no one will touch their sacred clothes and be harmed.[b]
The reason the priests had to change clothes in the Old Testament was because there was separation between the sacred and the secular in the Old Testament. If the common person touched Holy garments they would be harmed, or they would trivialize what was holy.
When Jesus comes on the scene in the New Testament, he changes the fashion and function of priestly clothes. Our inside and outside have the same function for God. Jesus is our great high priest. What he wore on the inside of the temple is what he wore on the outside. That’s why the woman with the issue of blood was able to touch the hem of his garment. She saw him as a priest but still felt comfortable touching his clothes. She said, “If I can just touch the hem of his garment I know I will be made whole!” When she did touch him, Jesus stopped and said, “Somebody touched my ‘outfit’ because I felt my virtue leave my body.” Your outfit should match your virtue so that whether you are in the church or on the outside people get blessed by your “outfit!”
If your outfit doesn’t match your inside then it’s time to change your “infit” to match your outfit.
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
Dear God,
Help my inner life to match my outer appearance. Let my true self be healthier than my image. God change my outfit!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14 When the priests are ready to leave the temple, they must go through these rooms before they return to the outer courtyard. They must leave their sacred clothes in these rooms and put on regular clothes before going anywhere near other people.
Back in the 70’s I was a little boy watching my Aunts, as teenagers themselves, preparing to go out with their friends; whether it was a Parliament-Funkadelic concert in Nashville or the skating rink in the next county, they always had to get a “new outfit.” What they wore at home was not the same thing they wore out amongst the people. They had to make themselves presentable before they went out, hence the word, “outfit.”
In the Old Testament, God put more emphasis on the “in-fit.” When the priests went into the inner temple to serve God they had to wear special priestly garments made out of linen. They had to be consecrated. This is a good principle for us to hold on to. When we go before God we need to be consecrated. It’s not so much what we have on but what we have in. Our mindset and our hearts should be holy when we enter into the Holy presence of God. Our outfit ought to match our inner attitude of reverence for God.
When we go out to face the people outside, we need to change our “outfit.” It’s not that we are two different people but the posture we take before God is distinctly different in front of the people on the outside.
Ezekiel 44:19
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
19 And before they leave to join the other people in the outer courtyard, they must take off their priestly clothes, then place them in the sacred rooms and put on their regular clothes.[a] That way, no one will touch their sacred clothes and be harmed.[b]
The reason the priests had to change clothes in the Old Testament was because there was separation between the sacred and the secular in the Old Testament. If the common person touched Holy garments they would be harmed, or they would trivialize what was holy.
When Jesus comes on the scene in the New Testament, he changes the fashion and function of priestly clothes. Our inside and outside have the same function for God. Jesus is our great high priest. What he wore on the inside of the temple is what he wore on the outside. That’s why the woman with the issue of blood was able to touch the hem of his garment. She saw him as a priest but still felt comfortable touching his clothes. She said, “If I can just touch the hem of his garment I know I will be made whole!” When she did touch him, Jesus stopped and said, “Somebody touched my ‘outfit’ because I felt my virtue leave my body.” Your outfit should match your virtue so that whether you are in the church or on the outside people get blessed by your “outfit!”
If your outfit doesn’t match your inside then it’s time to change your “infit” to match your outfit.
Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.
Dear God,
Help my inner life to match my outer appearance. Let my true self be healthier than my image. God change my outfit!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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